Wutopia Lab turns factory into bookstore in china
Wuto-mills, a Wutopia Lab sub-brand, reimagines the former Zisha Second Factory site as Ceramic Pages, a pottery-themed bookstore. Designed in collaboration with Duoyun Bookstore, the project comes to join the UCCA Clay Museum by Kengo Kuma at the Yixing Creative & Cultural Ceramic Avenue (CCCA) in Dingshu Town, China.
Encompassing 2,087 square meters, Ceramic Pages intertwines architectural storytelling with the artistry of ceramics, reflecting the client’s philosophy that ‘making pots is like being a man.’ Conceived under the guidance of chief architect Yu Ting, Ceramic Pages narrates the journey of crafting purple clay teapots, using architecture to symbolize the three transformative stages of the process: clay preparation, kiln firing, and completion.
Ceramic Pages comes to join the UCCA Clay Museum by Kengo Kuma | all images by CreatAR Images
all levels of Ceramic Pages reflect stages of pottery making
The Wuto-mills team of Wutopia Lab organizes the layout across three distinct levels, each representing a phase in pottery-making and personal growth. The ground floor, dedicated to clay preparation and shaping, evokes the beginnings of life and craft. Divided into areas for preparation, tenderizing, and shaping, the earthy-yellow interiors transition from dark to light, capturing the transformation from raw material to embryonic form. Custom bookshelves mimic this evolution, symbolizing the journey from innocence to maturity.
A striking ‘spout’ connects all three floors, introducing skylight and metaphorically tying the narrative together. On the first floor, a fiery café and shop immerse visitors in the kiln firing stage. Vibrant red and blue elements paired with a cavernous layout simulate the intense heat of the kiln, conveying themes of self-improvement and perseverance. The seating in the café subtly mirrors the architectural language of Kengo Kuma’s UCCA Clay Museum, drawing visual parallels to its organic forms and materiality. The adjoining outdoor terrace, with its bold red staircase and sun-patterned floor, extends the drama, offering views of the UCCA Clay Museum and encouraging communal engagement.
a terrace of flames links the indoor and outdoor narratives
a terrace of flames tops the ceramic-paneled facade
The third floor represents completion, likened to a finished teapot. Here, visitors encounter a serene ‘water wonderland’ with ripple-effect flooring, ceilings, and display racks. Luminous ceiling panels suggest an ethereal connection between sky and water, emphasizing the tranquility of a perfected craft. This gallery space displays exquisite pottery while symbolizing life’s ultimate sublimation, encapsulating Wuto-Mills’ ethos of ‘architecture is action.’ Unlike Wutopia Lab’s focus on experimental prototype research, Wuto-Mills employs mature design patterns and magical realism to solve practical problems, actively intervening in public and commercial spaces with an aesthetic that transcends the boundaries of urbanism, architecture, and art.
The facade of the building features ceramic hanging panels, echoing the cultural significance of the material. Glass Reinforced Gypsum (GRG), colored micro-cement, and perforated aluminum panels complement the thematic journey inside the project. A terrace of flames beneath the ceramic facade links the indoor and outdoor narratives, visually connecting Ceramic Pages with its cultural context.
Ceramic Pages is a ceramic-themed bookstore designed by Wuto-mills by Wutopia Lab
the project reimagines the former Zisha Second Factory site as a vibrant hub of contemporary ceramic culture
the earthy-yellow interiors transition from dark to light
encompassing 2,087 square meters, Ceramic Pages intertwines architectural storytelling with ceramics
the seating in the café subtly mirrors the architectural language of Kengo Kuma’s UCCA Clay Museum
vibrant red and blue elements complete the interior
reflecting the client’s philosophy that ‘making pots is like being a man.’
here, visitors encounter a serene ‘water wonderland’ with ripple-effect flooring
luminous ceiling panels suggest an ethereal connection between sky and water
Ceramic Pages narrates the journey of crafting purple clay teapots
project info:
name: Ceramic Pages in the Pot
architect: Wuto-mills by Wutopia Lab | @wutopia.lab
location: Dingshu Town, Yixing, Jiangsu, China
area: 2,087 square meters
chief architect: Yu Ting
project architect: Mu Zhilin
design team: Fang Xiaobin, Dai Ruoyu
lighting consultant: Chloe Zhang, Cai Mingjie, Wei Shiyu
construction drawing design: Jiangsu Wan’an Architectural Survey and Design Co., Ltd.
construction firm: Guangdong Yuda Construction Group Co., Ltd.
client: Yixing Taodu Asset Management Co., Ltd.
photography: CreatAR Images | @creatarimages
